Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 838’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Delphinium  plant named ‘ET DLP 838’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit; relatively short internodes; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense inflorescences with numerous violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna).

Cultivar denomination: ‘ET DLP 838’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO A RELATED APPLICATION & STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTORS/APPLICANTS

This application claims priority to a European Community Plant Breeders' Rights application filed on Oct. 1, 2021, application number 2021/2440. There have been no offers for sale anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this Application and no accessibility to one of ordinary skill in the art could have been derived from the printed Plant Breeder's Rights documents.

The Inventors/Applicants assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants. Inventors/Applicants claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Delphinium plant, botanically known as Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x belladonna), typically grown as a perennial garden plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘ET DLP 838’.

The new Delphinium plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Boijl, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new strong and freely-flowering Delphinium plants with dense inflorescences and unique and attractive flower colors.

The new Delphinium plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2014 of a proprietary selection of Delphinium elatum identified as code number 1033, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Delphinium x belladonna identified as code number B-852, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Delphinium plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boijl, The Netherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Delphinium plant by in vitro meristem culture in a controlled environment in Boijl, The Netherlands, since August, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Delphinium plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Delphinium have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ET DLP 838’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ET DLP 838’ as a new and distinct Delphinium plant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and sturdy plant habit.     -   2. Relatively short internodes.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit.     -   5. Moderately strong to strong flowering stems with dense         inflorescences with numerous violet blue-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact and shorter         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are violet blue in         color whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection         are purple in color.

Plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are taller than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have larger flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Delphinium can be compared to plants of Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium belladona) ‘ET DLP 17-10’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,993. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are taller than plants of ‘ET         DLP 17-10’.     -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have slightly larger flowers         than plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium have fewer petals per         flower than flowers of plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are violet blue in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘ET DLP 17-10’ are purple         violet in color.

Plants of the new Delphinium can be compared to plants of Delphinium elatum ‘Flamingo Star’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Delphinium differ primarily from plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Delphinium are more compact than plants of         ‘Flamingo Star’.     -   2. Plants of the new Delphinium have stronger flowering stems         than plants of ‘Flamingo Star’.     -   3. Flowering stems of plants of the new Delphinium are branching         whereas flowering stems of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are not         branching.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Delphinium are violet blue in         color whereas flowers of plants of ‘Flamingo Star’ are pink in         color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the Delphinium plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Delphinium plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘ET DLP 838’ grown in an container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘ET DLP 838’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the following description were grown in 21-cm containers during the spring and summer in an outdoor nursery in Boijl, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Delphinium production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 16° C. Plants were one year old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Delphinium elatum X (Delphinium x     belladonna) ‘ET DLP 838’. -   PARENTAGE:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium             elatum identified as code number 1033, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Delphinium             x belladonna identified as code number B-852, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of propagation.—In vitro meristem culture.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 12 to 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 15° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 to 25 days at             temperatures ranging from 5° C. to 10° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four             weeks at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five to             six weeks at temperatures ranging from 12° C. to 15° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             yellowish in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant typel.—Herbaceous perennial.         -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and             sturdy plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth             habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 55 cm             to 60 cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 100             cm to 105 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 60 cm to 65 cm.         -   Internode length.—About 2 cm to 5 cm.         -   Stem strength.—Moderately strong to strong.         -   Stem texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy to             matte.         -   Stem color.—Close to 143C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single, alternate or slightly whorled towards             the plant base.         -   Leaf length.—About 10 cm to 11 cm.         -   Leaf width.—About 15 cm.         -   Shape.—Palmately lobed with four to five lobes per leaf;             overall leaf shape, roughly ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Strongly serrate; lobes are shallow to moderate and             divergent.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Slightly pubescent; rough             and rugose; matte.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color.—Developint and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:             Close to 137B; venation, close to 144C. Developing and fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 138A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.5 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy to matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close             to 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and shape.—Double star-shaped flowers             arranged on dense terminal racemes; flowers face mostly             outwardly.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering habit with about 40             flowers developing per inflorescence and more than 400             flowers per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants             flower continuously during the spring and summer in The             Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three weeks on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm to             2 cm. Shape: Oblong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly glossy to matte. Color: Close to 142A blushed with             close to 94A.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 25 cm to 35 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 10 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm to 6 cm.         -   Flower height.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About five to six petals             in a single whorl; petals imbricate. Length: About 3.5 cm.             Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate to             elliptic. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin:             Entire; not undulate to slightly undulate. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny;             matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 96A;             towards the base, close to 91C; central petals, close to             155A and at their center, close to 154C. When opening, lower             surface: Close to 95B; towards the center, close to 91B.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 95A to 95B; inner             petals, close to 86A and towards the center and margins,             close to 95B; central petals, close to 155A and at their             center, close to 154C; venation, close to 95A to 95B. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 86C; towards the margins,             close to 95A to 95B venation, close to 85A.         -   Petaloids.—Quantity and arrangement: Up to five petaloids in             a single whorl; petaloids imbricate. Length: About 2 cm to             2.5 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Roughly obovate             to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire;             not undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; satiny; matte. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 96A; towards the base, close to 91C. When             opening, lower surface: Close to more purple than 94A;             towards the center, close to 91C. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 95A to 95B; venation, close to 95A to 95B.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 94C; towards the             center, close to 91C; venation, close to 91C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 100 cm to 105 cm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Aspect: Erect. Strength: Strong. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 143A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 5 mm. Aspect: About 45° from peduncle axis. Strength:             Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;             matte. Color: Close to 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About 25             to 30. Filament length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Filament color:             Close to 155D. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: About 1             mm to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N200B. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: Quantity per             flower: Three to four. Pistil length: About 6 mm to 12 mm.             Stigma diameter: About 1 mm to 3 mm. Stigma shape: Rounded.             Stigma color: Close to 155A. Style length: About 3 mm to             5 mm. Style color: Close to 155A. Ovary color: Close to             150B.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Delphinium. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Delphinium     have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Delphinium plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Delphinium have exhibited good     garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and temperatures     ranging from −20° C. to 40° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Delphinium plant named ‘ET DLP 838’ as illustrated and described. 